The Cowboy And The Countess. Darlene Scalera

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СКАЧАТЬ hadn’t been prepared for the confusion, the despair she saw on his face. His hands were lifted to her, offering, entreating.

      “Anna, I love you. Is it wrong?”

      She took those hands in hers, but when he began to step toward her, she tightened her hold, halting him.

      “Let’s sit down,” she said, leading him back to the couch still warm from their presence.

      “Kent—” she began.

      “K.C.” he insisted.

      “K.C.” she started again, concentrating on his face, keeping her voice kind, “I spoke with the vice president of Landover Technology a little while ago.”

      He looked at her, puzzled.

      “Leon,” she said. “Leon Skow.”

      His brow wrinkled. “Leon,” he murmured. “Short guy? Talks fast?”

      She laughed. “I’ve never seen him in person, but he does talk fast.”

      He smiled. “Bit abrupt but a nice enough fella. I met him yesterday at the hospital.”

      “You remember?”

      “Sure, he was there with some dark-haired woman.” He smiled again as he remembered. “They were so confused.”

      “They were confused?”

      He nodded. “They thought I was some other guy named Kent Landover. Some big shot here in L.A. who owns that company you mentioned.”

      “Landover Technology.”

      “That’s it. He must be pretty rich.”

      “He is,” she confirmed.

      “You know him?”

      She looked into the blue wash of his eyes, so clear and light, they seemed to spill silver.

      “Kent…”

      His eyes clouded to the color of shadows on snow.

      “Anna, we need to talk about us,” he said. “Not these strangers.”

      “They aren’t strangers, Kent.”

      Despite the tight hold she had on his hands, he pulled free. “K.C., Anna,” he pleaded. “I’m K.C.”

      “Leon told me you had an accident yesterday.”

      “I told you that, too.” He stood and went to the window as she’d done only moments ago. It was his time to turn his back.

      “That’s right, you did. You said you hurt your head but you’re fine now.”

      “I wasn’t lying to you.” Small clouds formed as his breath touched the glass. “I am fine.”

      She stood up, took a step toward him. “Do you remember the doctors saying you had amnesia?”

      He turned. “I know you’re worried, but there’s nothing wrong with me, Anna. I love you. I can take care of you and make you happy.”

      He came to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. She looked into the silver sheen of his eyes. “Believe in me, Anna. Believe in us.”

      She did believe, she thought. She always had.

      They stood together, the belief in themselves and what could be full in their hearts. In that moment, it was possible. Everything was possible. A computer wizard could be a wrangler. A cleaning girl could be a countess. If they believed…

      “A-n-n-n-a!” Ronnie called from below. “Some people are here to see you.”

      She received the summons with a smile, knowing she’d been saved. She and Kent walked downstairs, still hand in hand, their descent unhurried. The ground level beckoned, but Anna’s steps remained slow and measured. She would reach the flat surface soon enough.

      She heard Leon even before they reached the reception room.

      “Within a year, you’re going to want triple the megabytes on this baby,” he was telling Ronnie as he examined the back of her computer’s central unit. “What speed modem do you have?”

      A beautiful brunette, perched on the edge of one of the red velour chairs, jumped up.

      “Kent!”

      Anna recognized the woman coming toward them as Kent’s fiancé. The woman scanned Kent’s outfit. She hesitated. Her smile dissolved.

      Leon looked up. “Buddy!” He came toward Kent, arms outstretched. “Out stalking the streets, huh? I don’t blame you…not after I heard it was chipped beef on toast day at the hospital.”

      Leon embraced him in a back-patting hug. Kent stood, body stiff. He looked from Leon to Hilary.

      “What’re you doing here?” he asked. “I explained everything to you yesterday. I’m not the man you think I am.”

      Leon glanced at Anna.

      “I called them,” she said.

      Kent looked at her. “Why?”

      “They’re very worried about you.”

      He glanced at Leon and Hilary again, then back at Anna.

      “They’re your friends. You just don’t remember them.”

      Kent shook his head. “No, these people don’t know me. Not like you do, Anna.”

      “You remember them with you yesterday in the hospital, don’t you?”

      Kent looked for a long moment at Leon and Hilary. He nodded.

      “Do you remember the doctor talking about amnesia?” Leon asked.

      Kent nodded, still looking at Leon and Hilary.

      “Do you remember him saying the blow to your head caused a temporary memory loss?” Hilary asked.

      Again he nodded.

      “But there’s no reason you won’t fully recover in a few weeks,” Anna said too brightly. “You’ll be your ol’ self again in no time…and everything won’t seem so confusing.”

      Kent shifted his gaze to her. “I’m not confused, Anna.”

      “You left the hospital before the doctors could perform necessary tests,” Leon pointed out. “They need to take X rays to determine your condition.”

      “My condition?”

      “But all those tests can be done on an outpatient basis, darling,” Hilary added. “However, you do need rest to recover fully. That the doctor was very adamant about. So we’ve come to take СКАЧАТЬ